IT Sourcing for West Africa Export: 12-point checklist before purchasing

Purchasing IT equipment for West Africa carries more risks than a standard French domestic purchase. Here are 12 points to verify before any order.

Before purchase

1. Exact manufacturer reference — not a generic reference. Verify on the official website.
2. Assignable serial number — supplier must be able to provide you with the SN upon delivery.
3. Internationally applicable warranty — verify with the manufacturer (Dell ProSupport International, HP CarePack International, etc.).
4. 220V voltage compliance — verify the supplied adapter covers 100-240V (standard case, but confirm).
5. CE + RoHS compliance — mandatory to pass customs.

Commercial documents

6. Proforma invoice with excl. VAT value, EUR currency, payment terms.
7. Final commercial invoice (same content + amount paid).
8. Detailed packing list : number of cartons, dimensions, weight.
9. Certificate of origin (Form A for GSP countries, EUR.1 for ECOWAS if applicable).

Logistics

10. Incoterm chosen and understood : EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP, DDP. Each option changes who pays for what.
11. Transport insurance ad valorem for high-value equipment (workstations, servers).

Commissioning

12. Post-delivery support plan : who calls whom in case of failure? What replacement procedure? Target timeframe.

Conclusion

This 12-point checklist covers 95% of common issues in IT exports to West Africa. KOLOSALTech integrates these checks by default in every export quote.